"I don't know if I'll have to go as far as that," answered Owen, and then added: "Wait a minute. My friend Dale Bradford is with me. He heard some queer talk between Balasco and Foxy Hildan a couple of hours ago. Perhaps we'll have to have Hildan held."
"If you can prove anything against him have him held by all means!" exclaimed Philip Rice. "Fifty lumbermen in Oregon and California will bless you for it."
"Then you had better bring the sheriff with you," replied Owen; and after a few more words the conversation was brought to a close.
It must be admitted that Owen's heart beat strongly when he journeyed back to the lumber camp. He knew that Ulmer Balasco was a hard man with whom to deal, and that the task before him was one by no means easy.
"But Mr. Wilbur is in the right," he said to Dale. "And I am going to stick up for him to the finish. That lumber has got to go down to the river—every stick of it—and in jig time, too."
"If I were you I'd take Andy Westmore into my confidence before I spoke to Balasco," said Dale. "He knows this camp from end to end, and he'll know exactly what to do with the men."
"That's a good idea, Dale, and I'll tell Bruce Howard and a few of the others too."
Not to be seen by Ulmer Balasco, they took a roundabout way to the yard where Andy Westmore and Bruce were at work. While Owen told the old lumberman the news, and showed the telegram, Dale related the particulars to Bruce.
"It's what I expected," said Andy Westmore. "It should have happened two weeks ago. That contract only runs two weeks and three days longer. We'll have to hustle like mad to fill it on time."
"Will you stick by me, Westmore? I'll appoint you head yardmaster from this minute if you will."